During Messi’s purple patch since the turn of the year, although he has been scoring at will, his ability to set up goals for the likes of Suarez and Neymar has also been a key aspect of Barcelona’s excellent form.

The victory gives Barca a four-point lead at the top of the La Liga table, with Messi and co still able to win a momentous treble this season.

Gareth McKnight

I am a freelance football journalist from Northern Ireland, currently living and working from Broome in Western Australia. After a degree in sports journalism from the University of Stirling in Scotland, I started in the online football world and have worked for leading websites and media outlets since. My knowledge and passion is based around the Premier League and European football, but I also have a soft spot for the Australian A-League.